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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 03:14 21/11/2007 Barak -suspected saboteur By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Annapolis, Ehud Barak Defense Minister Ehud Barak has said on a number of occasions that he is "praying for the success of the Annapolis summit." It is good to see Barak placing his trust in God. It is even better to see him wishing for the summit to succeed. However, a defense minister is expected to do much more than just pray. For months, Barak has been silent as a monk. His performance as defense minister has hardly been felt. He seems to be finding it hard to leave his mark on the ministry, despite his wealth of experience in the field. He recently broke his silence, but what he said did not sound like something coming from the leader of the country's second largest party - which is supposed to pursue a distinct political and security agenda that sets it apart from other parties. Advertisement All the while, his office is making pessimistic noises on the chances of success the summit, which Barak will attend, has of succeeding. Barak's speech last Sunday at a party meeting strengthened the impression that Barak does not believe in its chances of success. Barak threw Annapolis only a few casual sentences. Additionally, according to a leak from Monday's cabinet meeting, he spoke in favor of the settlers - including those living in illegal outposts. The defense minister has the right not to believe the summit will succeed, but he is absolutely forbidden from sabotaging it while working for a government that has decided to strive toward its success. The defense minister could have had a far-reaching effect on events on the ground before the summit. He could have given orders to make life considerably easier for the Palestinians living under Israel occupation, as a token of Israel's intentions to move ahead toward peace. Barak could have released as many Palestinian prisoners as possible and opened up roadblocks instead of merely appearing to do so. He could have checked mass arrests and granted work permits to Palestinians, to mark the opening of a new chapter. Barak did none of the above. He is also the minister entrusted with supervising the settlers' activity. His reported support for people living in illegal outposts and his quoted refusal to freeze construction in the settlements (saying it was "impossible") will only make it harder for Annapolis to succeed. And so, Barak's pessimistic prophecy could end up fulfilling itself. His colleagues in the Labor leadership have good reason to complain. "We are keeping silent and leaving the arena open to pressure from the right wing," Ami Ayalon said recently. Others complained of their party's passive line. Labor is supposed to constitute the government's most influential bloc regarding progress on negotiations with the Palestinians. For this very reason, voters cast their ballots for it. "We will leave no stone unturned on the way to peace," Barak said this week in an attempt to recapture his days at Camp David when he dared to bring up the real core issues for discussion. Now it seems Barak is seeking to leave no stone unturned to find a away to thwart prospects for peace. Barak's actions are highly suspect: Is he willing to leave no stone unturned for peace only when he is prime minister? Is he unwilling to assist the drive toward a peace agreement - and possibly even hamper it - simply because he is not at the helm? Bookmark to del.icio.us Radical redcoats U.K. radical left wing is calling for a one-state solution. Bush goes nuts U.S. demands Israel halts illegal Iranian pistachio imports.   1.   Better no partner than having deceiving-lying-thieving Arab"partn 19:28  |  Genuine Tosefta 21/11/07   2.   Ye and he should also permit suicide bombers to enter Israel ... 19:45  |  Norman 21/11/07   3.   perhaps Barak learned 19:50  |  Larry 21/11/07   4.   I must admit I am flabbergasted by this article. 19:58  |  S 21/11/07   5.   Ehud "Burgerking" Barak, autistic defense minister 22:42  |  Andreas 21/11/07   6.   Barak must be doing something right.. 23:01  |  Bob 21/11/07   7.   No wonder this article is unsigned 23:20  |  Major R 21/11/07   8.   He just took out Syrian nuclear reactor 23:40  |  Shulamit Batel 21/11/07   9.   God Bless Ehud Barak 00:03  |  John Isenhower 22/11/07   10.   Better no partner than lying thieving etc... 00:21  |  Isca 22/11/07   11.   Barak was burned 00:53  |  Manny 22/11/07   12.   Haaretz anonymous editor suspected traitor 02:15  |  Genuine Tosefta 22/11/07   13.   5 Andreas from Basel 05:24  |  Simon 22/11/07   14.   Knock it off, he`s the only realistic one 05:43  |  Gabe 22/11/07   15.   Who wants Anapolis...? 06:20  |  Jerri i 22/11/07   16.   D M Barak 06:33  |  Sol 22/11/07   17.   Editorial manipulate for more than arabs rejection of Camp David 07:06  |  Joseph E . 22/11/07   18.   I AM SURE THAT BARAK IS DOING WHAT 09:07  |  Robert 22/11/07   19.   From #1 to17 everyone is of the opposite opinion 09:14  |  S 22/11/07   20.   Should have granted work to Pals, very funny.. 09:50  |  maurice 22/11/07

Today Online U.K. radical left sees one-state solution to Mideast conflict Responses: 315 Akiva Eldar: Demand for recognition of Jewish State was made hastily Responses: 126 Amira Hass: Failure to free more prisoners is a blow to peace Responses: 111 Rightist MKs slam PM's move to transfer armored vehicles to PA Responses: 94 Rosner: Annapolis could be an unnecessary failure Responses: 43 More Headlines 08:49 Palestinian source: Gaps remain on way to summit 09:41 Report: Syria has decided not to attend Annapolis peace conference 09:08 Germany probes 50 firms that sold nuclear equipment to Iran 09:28 Study: Young U.S. Jews most comfortable when surrounded by non-Jews 03:15 Court rules in favor of soldier who got cancer during service 05:55 Yisrael Beiteinu may quit gov't if PM starts talks after summit 03:52 IDF: Full-time Torah studies, draft-dodging harm our ethic 06:02 Histadrut to open tribunal for sexual harassment complaints 08:08 U.S. demands Israel crack down on illegal Iranian pistachio imports Previous Editions Select Day 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 16 nov 15 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov

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